The R&A announces enhanced coverage for the 154th Open, with more than 100 hours of live content, 35 broadcast partners in over 200 countries, a new official app, a Fantasy game, Player Focus feed and the return of Live at the Range
The 154th Open Championship arrives at Royal Birkdale with coverage like never before. The aim of The R&A is for fans to experience the tournament that started it all in a more personalised, more immersive and more accessible way than ever. From 12 to 19 July, the tournament will roll out a series of digital innovations and enhanced television coverage to bring every shot, every story and every key moment of the week closer
The great links golf event will have global distribution befitting its history. The live feed of The Open will be available through 35 broadcast partners in more than 200 countries and territories, with more than 48 hours of main coverage and over 100 hours of live content across the week. That offering will be joined by the Featured Groups, The Open Radio, the return of Live at the Range and one of this year’s main innovations: the Player Focus feed, which will allow viewers to follow a selected player each day
It’s another step in turning major championships into genuine content platforms. It’s no longer just about checking the leaderboard or following the main broadcast. The R&A wants every fan to be able to build their own Open experience: from those walking Royal Birkdale to those watching from home, from those who want to see marquee pairings to those seeking statistics, key shots, radio, clips, highlights or behind-the-scenes content
“The Open is our biggest opportunity each year to inspire people through an extraordinary championship and bring fans from around the world closer than ever to the action of one of the world’s major sporting events”, explained Neil Armit, commercial director of The R&A.
Armit also underlined the intention to make the championship ever more accessible: “Whether walking the streets of Royal Birkdale or following the tournament from the other side of the world, these new digital innovations and improved television coverage will help millions of people feel closer to the players, the stories and the unique spirit of the original championship of golf”.
Television coverage will begin with the main broadcast from 06:30 local time on Thursday 16 July. The R&A will work with European Tour Productions, Sky Sports and NBC to produce a top-class broadcast, with technology specifically chosen to showcase the full richness of links golf. Planned resources include a 350-metre wire cam, live aerial coverage presented by Accenture and commentary increasingly supported by data
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will again offer full championship coverage, including all the build-up with Live at the Range, in partnership with HSBC. In the United States, the first two rounds can be followed via USA Sports, as can the early-morning windows over the weekend, while full coverage will move to NBC from 07:00 ET on the third and fourth rounds. In addition, Golf Channel will broadcast each day Live from The Open, with analysis and coverage of everything happening at Royal Birkdale
One of fans’ favourite products, The Open Radio, will also be available globally via TheOpen.com and the official tournament app, as well as Sirius XM in the United States
The The Open app has been completely redesigned with a more modern look and new personalised tools. New features include Top Shots and Trending Moments videos, designed to help fans quickly find the biggest shots and moments. Familiar functions also return, such as Walk To Win, the Lockscreen Leaderboard, live streams, ShotView, The Open Radio and the Stats Centre
For those attending Royal Birkdale, the experience will also be more complete. The app will offer live player tracking, improved wayfinding within the venue, information on grandstand capacity, personalised visit planning and real-time weather
Another major initiative will be the new Fantasy game, free to play, developed by Genius Sports and presented by Mastercard. It will be available exclusively to members of One Club via the official app. Users will be able to pick three players from four categories, make changes after the cut, compete for daily prizes and create private leagues with family and friends. The overall winner will receive a travel package to attend the 155th Open at St Andrews in 2027
The official website, TheOpen.com, has also been updated with personalised information about broadcast operators based on each user’s location, so fans around the world can more easily find where to watch the tournament live
Added to all this is the new Player Stream feed, designed to follow certain players live, and the return of the Featured Groups, which will allow viewers to see every shot from the most important pairings. In addition, a new video playlist feature will make it easier to access highlights and championship content throughout the week
Finally, Live at the Range will once again be one of the most interesting windows for understanding what happens before and during the tournament. The programme, in partnership with HSBC, will offer behind-the-scenes access, player interviews, analysis of practice sessions and insights into how the world’s best prepare for the links challenge. It will be presented by Di Stewart and will feature George Harper Jnr, Peter Finch and Simon Holmes
Royal Birkdale will not only decide who lifts the Claret Jug and becomes Champion Golfer of the Year. It will also be the stage for an Open that is ever broader, more tech-driven and closer to fans. The original championship of golf retains its essence, but changes the way it reaches the fan
